Folding boat



(NoModeL) P. HEATHER,

FOLDING BOAT.

I No. 552,437. Patented Dec. 31, 1895.

Witnesses:

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UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK HEATHER, OF YONKERS, NEXV YORK.

FOLDING BOAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 552,437, dated December31, 1895.

Application filed July 31, 1895. Serial N0. 557,716. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK HEATHER, a subject of the Queen ofGreat'Britaiu, residing at Yonkers, county of \Vestchester, State of NewYork, have invented certain new and-useful Improvements in FoldingBoats, of which the following is a specification.

My boat has a framework composed in the main of a number of suitablesections which are flexibly or detachably connected to each other attheir meeting edges. Each of the sections is a frame of wooden rods. Aflexible covering of waterproof canvas formed in one piece in the shapeof the boat is drawn over the framework. The construction of theframework and its combination with the covering, as hereinafterdescribed and claimed, are believed to be new.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, which form a part of thisspecification, Figure l is a perspective view of the finished boat inthe water. Fig. 2 is a perspective view taken at the same angle andshowing the framework, the canvas covering being removed. Fig. 3 is anisometric view showing how the several sections of the framework arefolded upon each other when the boat is made into a package forcarrying. Fig. 4 is a cross-section through the middle of the boat.

Around the circumference of the boat is a chain of sections hereinaftercallec upright sections. These are sections B and E to form the sides,sections 0 and D to form the bow, and a section F to form the stern.Each of these sections is connected to the adjoining section by hinges hh, with the exception of one meeting place where the sections are joinedby straps and buckles b b, so that they can be detached from each other.This buckled joint is between a section for one of the sides and thesection for the stern. The hinges are formed by wrapping strips ofleather around the adjoining rods of the adjoining sections. The rodsare round and the leather hinges are loose on both, so that the sectionscan be folded onto each other.

hen the straps b b are unbuckled the upright sections can bestraightened out into a flat chain. The section B which forms one of thesides will be a terminal section. Next to this willcome the section 0,which forms one side of the bow, then the section D for the other sideof the bow, the section E for the side opposite the section B, andlastly the section F which forms the stern. This section for the sternis also a terminal section. A section A to form the bottom is hinged tothe lower edge of the terminal section B.

The framework is brought into the shape of the boat by arranging thesections as shown in Fig. 2. The section B for one of the sides and thesection F for the stern are buckled together, and the section for thebottom is buckled to the lower edge of the section E. A triangular stripof canvas G is attached to one end of the bottom section, and is tied in.the bow of the boat. Slats g g are attached to this canvas and rest onthe lower rails of the bow-sections. All of the sections have rungs orbraces '7' r to stiffen them. The bottom section has two rungs aboutequidistant from each other and the ends. These divide the bottomsection into three panels. Light bottom boards a a are laid across twoof these panels and canvas is stretched over the middle panel.

The canvas is to serve as a seat for the occupant. The two bottom boardsa a and the slats g'g are enough to brace the bottom of the boat andafford places on which'to step in getting in or out. Canvas is used forthe rest of the bottom because it is lighter than the wood. Pockets p pof canvas are stretched between rungs in the side frames. These areconvenient for holding ammunition and bait. A top brace tbraces the topof the framework.

To complete the boat a waterproof flexible covering of canvas H isstretched over the framework. Loops of rope Z Z are on the upper edge ofthe covering. These are caught over buttons It It on the upper rails ofthe upright sections which form the gunwale of the boat. Air-chambers cc are attached to the covering and inflated. They are on the bow, sidesand stern. Those 011 the bow and sides are preferably placed at thewater-line and not low enough down to be completely submerged. By thuslocating them they will strike the water upon any unbalancing of theboat, and prevent it from overturning. There is a further element ofsafety in the employment of these air-chambers because they will keepthe boat from sinking in event of its filling with water throughpuncture of the canvas or otherwise. The strap m, which is buckled tothe sides, serves as a back-rest.

In the construction of my boat, lightness and portability have been theprincipal objects in view. It is intended especially for use in huntingand fishing. For the former purpose-as, for example, in duck-huntingnarrowness and lightness of draft are particularly needed so that theboat can pass among reeds where boats which are wider or of deeper draftcould not go. The occupant sits on the bottom of the boat instead of ona seat so that the weight will be lower down and give more stability.

To fold the framework into a compact package the chain of uprightsections is turned over so that the terminal section B will lie upon thesection A which forms the bottom. The section C is then folded backuponB and section D is folded forward upon C. Section E is likewisefolded back upon D and section F forward upon E. They are thus foldedupon each other in alternately opposite directions. In order that theupright sections may fold compactly together, it is necessary that nointermediate section in theline be of different length from those hingedto it at either end. It is not necessary, however, that the sections beall of equal length, for if one of the sec.- tions-as, for example,section Fis shorter than the others, it will not interfere with thecompact folding together of the framework, provided that it can be madea terminal section.

Suitable dimensions for the boat are six feet in length, twenty-oneinchesin width, and twelve inches in height. Such a boat can be foldedinto a package thirty-seven inches long by twenty-one inches wide bynine inches thick. This includes both framework and covering and a caseor bag in which these are contained. The case, which is not shown, canbe used as a deck-cover when the boat is in use. \Vithin the dimensionsof the package given there is also space for a gun-case andgun,game-bag,and other articles that a sportsman may need to carry.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of theUnited States, is

1. In a framework for a folding-boat, sections to form the sides,sections to form the bow, and a section to form the stern, the severalsections being connected to each other at their meeting edges, and abottom section which is hinged to one of the side sections,substantially as described.

2. In a folding-boat, the combination with a removable flexiblecovering, of a framework consisting of a chain of upright sectionshinged together at their ends so that they can be folded togetherinalternately opposite directions, and a bottom section which is hinged toone of the upright sections, substantially as described.

3. In a folding-boat, the combination with a removable flexiblecovering, of a framework consisting of a chain of upright sectionshinged to each other at their ends so that they can be folded togetherin alternately opposite directions, and a bottom section which is hingedto a terminal section of the chain of upright sections, substantially asdescribed.

4:. In a folding-boat, the combination with aremovable flexiblecovering, of a framework consisting of sections to form the sides,sections to form the bow, and a section to form the stern, the severalsections being connected to each other at their meeting edges, and abottom section which is hinged to one of the side sections,substantially as described.

Signed by me, in Yonkers, this 27th day of July, 1895.

FREDERIGK HEATHER. \Vitnesses SAMUEL W. BALCH, GALUSHA B. BALCH.

